Chapter 206
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 206
Chapter Title: I'll Graciously Accept It
"Thank you."
Namgung Ji-yu offered words of gratitude toward Dan Mok Un-roe.
She had said the same thing to Namgung Ji-hu before, but he had struggled to accept it.
Dan Mok Un-roe's words must have been different, though.
His demeanor had changed right away.
"Oh, by the way, what about the manual?"
The manual he hadn't mastered yet.
From what she'd heard at the Devouring Dragon Pavilion, hadn't he been training in his family's martial arts?
"I'm receiving Instructor Ha's guidance."
A calm reply.
But Namgung Ji-yu widened her eyes in surprise.
It was inevitable.
Showing one's family secret techniques to an outsider.
Dan Mok Un-roe shrugged at her reaction.
"It was a martial art I didn't even know existed anyway. I've only received favors from Instructor Ha."
"If the person involved says so..."
"If you hit a wall with the Emperor's Sword Form, tell Ji-hu to ask Instructor Ha for help. He won't regret it."
Namgung Ji-yu nodded at Dan Mok Un-roe's utterly serious expression, bid her farewells, and left the training ground.
She was going after her younger brother, Namgung Ji-hu.
"Would he really ask for help? With the Emperor's Sword Form, of all things?"
Dang Jin-san spoke with a look that said there was no way.
Instructor Ha Mu-baek's teachings were immensely helpful.
Dang Jin-san himself had received guidance on his family's secret Spirit Snake Nine Whip from Ha Mu-baek.
What was astonishing was that Ha Mu-baek didn't know the Spirit Snake Nine Whip.
Yet, just by watching Dang Jin-san demonstrate it, he had shown the exact path forward.
'No, he seems to know it to some extent.'
That thought crossed his mind too.
In truth, Ha Mu-baek had grasped the general principles after seeing the Spirit Snake Nine Whip used by the Tang Clan warriors.
Dang Jin-san couldn't know that. It was a realm beyond the imagination of common martial world logic.
If he knew, calling him a monster wouldn't even suffice.
To roughly understand the principles of a martial art just by watching it once.
It was a terrifying ability that transcended mere talent, sending chills down the spine.
"Well, that's for him to decide."
Dan Mok Un-roe replied indifferently.
Namgung Hwa-hyeon gazed at the training ground with frustrated eyes.
His younger brothers were there, instructing his nephews.
The first half of the Emperor's Sword Form.
It was the part his brothers were also practicing.
Watching his nephews train made his chest tighten with frustration.
Even though they were exceptional children, they didn't satisfy him.
He knew why.
He had seen someone far superior.
Namgung Ji-hu.
His eldest son.
Yet also the son of another woman.
'I was frustrated with myself back then too.'
In his youth.
There had been a genius in the family.
But no one knew he was a genius.
It was inevitable.
He was from a collateral branch, ignored by all, not even allowed to learn the Soaring Bow Free Sword.
Namgung Hwa-hyeon had discovered him by chance while passing by an outer training ground.
He still vividly remembered the sword forms from that day.
'It was beautiful.'
The Grand Linked Sword Form, which anyone with moderate achievement in the clan could learn.
He himself had mastered the Grand Linked Sword Form, then the Soaring Bow Free Sword, and finally the Emperor's Sword Form.
That boy's Grand Linked Sword Form showed attainment beyond even the Soaring Bow Free Sword.
He had kept the obscure collateral warrior by his side, captivated by that genius.
And soon regretted it.
Comparing his own sword to that boy's made him feel utterly stifled.
Even while training the Emperor's Sword Form, it felt inferior to the boy's Grand Linked Sword Form.
He was a genius who made the impossible possible.
That man was a needle in a pocket.
His genius would reveal itself eventually.
Tormented by inferiority toward him, Namgung Hwa-hyeon had taken him on a trip with two wives, for two purposes.
A two-year excursion with his two wives.
When they returned, only Namgung Hwa-hyeon remained.
No, he had returned to the main house cradling two children: Namgung Ji-yu and Namgung Ji-hu.
Whenever he saw the genius of Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu, that man came to mind.
And the inferiority he felt toward him crept back up.
That's why he couldn't bring himself to care for them.
Officially father and children, but Namgung Hwa-hyeon had never truly seen his two children as his own.
'I became clan head fair and square. So one of those kids might become clan head too.'
After watching his nephews train a bit longer, Namgung Hwa-hyeon turned away.
Ha Mu-baek stepped out of his quarters.
The first person he sought was Jegal Myeong.
"Instructor Ha. Come in."
He looked busy with paperwork.
For an instructor to handle this too. Truly impressive.
"I heard from the Pavilion Lord."
Jegal Myeong brightened at Ha Mu-baek's words.
"I was just informed. You're taking charge of the Fierce Dragon Corps' shield techniques."
"That's right."
"Excellent. With someone like you stepping up, I can breathe easier."
His eyes were filled with genuine sincerity.
Ha Mu-baek had heard he taught graduating cadets right up to the last day.
"He also asked me to teach accompanying swordsmanship and joint techniques tailored to it."
"I heard that too."
"That means I'll have to modify the shield techniques somewhat. Is that alright?"
Ha Mu-baek asked cautiously.
Jegal Myeong had created the shield techniques, after all.
Now Ha Mu-baek, who had inherited them, was talking about altering them.
Jegal Myeong nodded.
"No choice. My shield techniques are purely for defense and survival. Here, take these."
Jegal Myeong pulled out three manuals and handed them to Ha Mu-baek.
"What's this?"
"Swordsmanship and joint techniques I prepared in case of this."
Ha Mu-baek looked at him in astonishment.
The Pavilion Lord had said he wouldn't have time for this, yet here they were, already made.
"I simply didn't have time to teach anything beyond shields. I'm grateful you're stepping in. Use these as reference, and please do it your way."
Jegal Myeong gazed at Ha Mu-baek with eyes full of trust, as if handing over complete authority.
What made him trust Ha Mu-baek so much?
Honestly, what Ha Mu-baek had shown at the Dragon Training Pavilion wasn't enough to inspire such faith.
Yet Jegal Myeong trusted him utterly.
There was only one reason.
Originally, Jegal Myeong hadn't known Ha Mu-baek's true identity.
But from his current demeanor...
'He knows now.'
It made sense.
The Jegal Clan could easily obtain information on Ha Mu-baek.
"I'll graciously accept it."
Ha Mu-baek tucked the manuals into his robes and stood.
Jegal Myeong still looked busy.
Ha Mu-baek headed to the Fierce Dragon Corps Seventh Squad's training ground.
Not only the Seventh Squad cadets but even the Twentieth Squad were training diligently.
Han Seol-bing was there too.
"Huh? Why are you here instead of your own training ground?"
Ha Mu-baek asked Han Seol-bing.
"That's rich coming from the one who dumped all the work on me."
After smoothing things over, Ha Mu-baek reclined obliquely in his spot.
Han Seol-bing's voice had an edge.
"The one who said they'd rest thoroughly today—what brings you here?"
Still sharp.
"Brother. Can't I train here too?"
Then came Ha Seol-ran's question in succession.
Ha Seol-ran was in the Twentieth Squad, not Seventh.
Ha Mu-baek made an "oh" face.
He had focused on Han Seol-bing and momentarily forgotten.
"Sure. Spot's fine—do as you like."
After smoothing that over, Ha Mu-baek reclined in his spot again.
He slowly flipped through the manuals.
They were filled with detailed illustrations and explanations.
"Impressive..."
They were substantial.
Worthwhile admiration for Jegal Myeong of the Jegal Clan.
If he had to nitpick, the lack of Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest combat experience left a few gaps.
Ha Mu-baek could fill those.
One read-through, and it was all memorized. Just needed minor tweaks.
The joint techniques needed some new additions.
'This'll keep them grinding hard for a year.'
Ha Mu-baek smiled faintly.
The Seventh Squad cadets flinched. They sensed an ominous aura from somewhere.
"Instructor, what's that manual?"
Dang Jin-san asked cautiously.
He always stepped up for these things.
Fitting for a squad leader.
"Something you'll learn."
At that, all the cadets' eyes lit up.
"Not just you all—the entire Fierce Dragon Corps."
They all tilted their heads.
Their instructor found teaching even five exhausting.
Yet here he was reviewing manuals for the whole corps.
Incomprehensible.
"There'll be changes to the Fierce Dragon Corps curriculum. Not sure when it'll be announced, but soon."
At Ha Mu-baek's words, they exchanged glances.
Classes with Hidden Dragon and Wa Dragon Corps had just started.
Now changes to Fierce Dragon too?
"You've trained hard, but dying in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest would be a waste. Gotta grind to survive."
The five cadets widened their eyes.
This was the same instructor who had told them to go home with a 50% survival rate.
Yet now these words.
"But ordinary training won't cut it."
Ha Mu-baek grinned.
A menacing smile.
"The others, and even you all, will suffer. I'll really put you through it."
Someone shuddered at that.
Han Seol-bing.
Her face had gone pale.
"Instructor Han?"
Yeon Ha-min asked worriedly at her sudden reaction.
"N-no, it's nothing."
Han Seol-bing quickly regained her composure.
"Just a horrific memory resurfaced. You're not going to do it like back then, are you, Squad Leader?"
Her old title slipped out unconsciously, triggered by the memory.
"Back then, you at least had some foundation. Fierce Dragon has nothing, so it'll be even harsher."
Hearing that, Han Seol-bing stared at the seven cadets.
The cadets felt uneasy under that gaze.
Inevitable.
It brimmed with pity.
"Instructor Han...?"
Dang Jin-san ventured carefully.
"You won't die. So hang in there. And rest well today."
Han Seol-bing turned and left those words behind.
"You have to help too."
Ha Mu-baek called after her as she tried to leave the training ground.
Han Seol-bing nodded lightly.
The seven remaining cadets grew increasingly ominous.
"Keep training hard then."
Ha Mu-baek stood.
His business here was done.
His departing back exuded peak foreboding.
Eon Mu-woong.
A promising young talent of the Jinju Eon Clan, bearing the family's full expectations.
This year, he entered the Dragon Training Pavilion as a first-year Hidden Dragon Corps cadet.
The reason wasn't anything special.
He had heard rumors of the Dragon Training Pavilion's East Tournament results.
Hidden Dragon and Wa Dragon cadets all fell, while Fierce Dragon cadets took first and second.
Sure, rumors said they were disciples of Wudang and Zhongnan.
But if Wudang and Zhongnan disciples ended up in Fierce Dragon instead of Hidden Dragon, they must be flawed.
For them to snatch victory and runner-up from such rejects was lamentable for a scion of an orthodox prestigious clan.
Though not among the Five Great Clans, the Jinju Eon Clan proudly claimed a spot among the Ten Great Clans of the Central Plains.
As a direct descendant, he had entered Hidden Dragon to show those Fierce Dragon scum what for.
Conveniently, one morning class was with second-year Fierce Dragon cadets.
He would properly display his dignity to those lowly ones.
Eon Mu-woong didn't even consider that he was first-year and they second-year.
He entered the classroom right on time.
Today's class: Poisons and Antidotes.
Seemed simple, but crucially important.
He'd heard unorthodox and Blood Cult poisons were horrific.
Just recently, Wuchang had been thrown into chaos by Blood Cult poisons.
Cadets trickled in.
He spotted the swaggering Fierce Dragon cadets.
Even their sitting posture irked him.
Just their backs screamed lowborn.
They were tainting the classroom atmosphere merely by existing.
The moment he thought a noble like himself should correct them.
The instructor entered.
Bi Ga-yeong, Wa Dragon instructor from Seon Yu Valley.
Eon Mu-woong's eyes widened.
Expecting a shady male for poisons, an incredible beauty had appeared.
"Ahem."
Disciplining Fierce Dragon cadets could wait.
First, focus on class.